Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, obviously.
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CHAPTER 18
(Summer 1996)
Albus Dumbledore knocked on the royal blue door of Daniel and Minerva's beach house. He waited for a moment then heard the pounding of tiny feet approaching the door and Daniel's voice saying. "Hugh, wait! Let Daddy open the door!"
"But, Daddy, it's Uncle Albus!" Hugh's childish voice passed through the door, and Albus's eyebrows raised in surprise.
"How do you know?" Daniel's voice was just on the other side of the door now.
"Daddy, let him in!" the childish voice responded, not answering the question.
The door opened, and Dumbledore was immediately grabbed round his leg in the tight hug of Minerva's five-year-old son. He fondly stroked the boy's sandy curls.
"Albus!" Daniel smiled. "Somehow Hugh knew it was you before I opened the door." He said, bemused.
"Must be magic." Albus smiled, and Daniel laughed.
"Come in!" he stepped back and Hugh grabbed Albus's hand and pulled him into the house.
"Uncle Albus, do you want to see the castle I've been building out of legos? It looks just like Hogwarts!" Hugh said excitedly.
"Absolutely, my boy!" Dumbledore said.
"I'll go get it!" Hugh exclaimed.
"Hugh," Daniel knelt and took the boy by the shoulders. "Remember, Anna is napping, so tiptoe on the stairs and in the hallway as quietly as you can." He said in a whisper.
"Okay." Hugh whispered back.
"Good boy." Daniel kissed Hugh's forehead and stood.
Daniel and Albus both chuckled as Hugh slowly tiptoed down the hallway with exaggerated steps.
"I'm surprised to see you!" Daniel said, leading Albus into the kitchen. "Minerva told me what happened at the school, but said that you'd declined her offer for you to stay here at our house."
"Yes, I've had much to do while 'on the lam' I believe is the phrase." Albus replied, and Daniel nodded.
"I'm sorry about what's been happening at the school." Daniel said. "I know the past few years have been unusually stressful, but I've never seen Minerva so stressed as she's been this year. That Umbridge woman is a real piece of work, sounds like."
"Indeed." Dumbledore said with a sigh. "Daniel, I'm afraid I have some…disturbing news to relate."
"What?" the alarm in Daniel's voice was instantaneous. "Is Minerva alright?"
Albus looked into the concerned face of the man whom he knew Minerva adored above all others. "No, Daniel." His voice trembled. "I'm sorry, but there's been an incident at the school. Minerva was attempting to defend a friend from being falsely arrested and was hit in the chest with four powerful spells called stunners. I'm afraid she's in St. Mungo's hospital. Her condition is critical."
Daniel couldn't breathe. "Will she be alright?" He gasped out.
"Four stunners would have instantly killed the average witch or wizard, especially taken in the chest." Albus softly explained. "Only Minerva's exceptional power and sheer tenacity, along with the quick actions of Madam Pomphrey and Professor Snape, managed to preserve her life. But her prognosis is…uncertain."
"Will she live?" Daniel said, his voice trembling.
"I do not know." Albus admitted sadly, and Daniel gasped. "She is in a coma. The healers don't know when or if she will regain consciousness."
"Albus," Daniel clutched Dumbledore's shoulder. "I have to go to her."
"Daniel…" Albus said.
"She's my wife!" Daniel insisted.
"And, as you know," Dumbledore said, his tone reasonable, "she has gone to great lengths to keep that fact a very great secret—to protect you and your children."
"I know!" Daniel exclaimed. "But she's hurt! She's in a coma! And I'm her husband!"
"Daniel, I promised her," Dumbledore said, "that I would do everything in my power to keep her family safe."
"And I promised her," Daniel plead, "That I would always love her and be there for her! I promised to have her and hold her in sickness and in health!" His voice cracked with emotion. "My wife is hurt, she may be dying, and I will go to her, Albus! I don't care what you have to do to get me in there—I. Have. To. See. Her!"
Dumbledore looked into the determined eyes of Daniel Jamison. He had known that it would take a man who was passionate, but who also had an easy-going temperament to balance well with Minerva. A man with strong principles but an open, loving heart.
He had seen all of these things in Daniel over the years he'd spent time with their family. But now he could also see that Daniel also matched Minerva McGonagall will-for-will. He would not be persuaded or prevented…so he must be protected.
"How will I ever explain this to Minerva?" he wondered aloud.
"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it." Daniel insisted. "For now, let's hope she wakes up and gives you the chance."
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AN: My thoughts and prayers go out to all those who are suffering the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. As I anticipated, it is taking me longer to write these chapters, while attempting to comply with isolation rules and homeschooling my four small kids. (I have a five-yr-old little guy who looks remarkably like little Hugh.)
I know some of you might be upset that I'm going against MM's wishes by having AD agree to smuggle Daniel into St. Mungo's, but really, if the situation were reversed, I think she'd move heaven and hell to be by his side, so why shouldn't he be allowed to insist upon being there when her condition is critical and, for all he knows, she may die? That's my take. Let me know if you agree/disagree. And let me know what you'd like to see in the next chapter. Should we see a wedding, meet the families, some cool magical displays, some making out? If you want to see it, let me know!
